Lathe construction



Sept. 10, 1963 C. E. MCELRQY LATHE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 27, 1960 INVENTOR. /%'ZZ0) WW p 1963 c. E. MCELROY 3,103,058

LATHE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 62/2)5. ficfzeor Se t; 10, 1963 c. E. MOELROY LATHE CONSTRUCTION Filed May27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. Q/WZMfl/eay BY Sept. 10, 1963 c.E. MOELROY LATHE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1960 UnitedStates Patent 3,163,058 LATHE CQNSTRUCTIUN flay E. MclElroy, 1844 4thSt. SE, Moultrie, Ga. Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,335 1 Claim. (CI.29-27) This invention relates to a lathe construction, and has as itsprimary object the provision of an improved turning tool characterizedby interchangeable elements Whereby the same may be readily adapted toface plate turning, as in working Wood or the like, or for metalspinning.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such devicecharacterized by a work holder which may be readily positioned so thatthe operator may stand in front of the face plate while doing face platework, and may work on the rear of the face plate, without the necessityof reversing the material being worked upon.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a small,compact machine which may be readily adapted to face plate work onarticles of relatively great diameter.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a tool:or machine characterized by the ready inter changeability of parts, andparticularly by a split bearing assembly wherein the spindle assemblymay be removed from the headstock, and replaced as an integral unit,Without the necessity of tearing down the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter wherein the work spindle may carry on the opposite end abufiing wheel in readily accessible position, so that the same machinemay be used for a relatively wide variety of operations and purposes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable andefficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, assemble and utilize.

Still other objects will in part be :obvious, and in parts be pointedout as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in theaccompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed the preferred embodimentof this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of device embodying theinstant inventive concept, shown as set up for metal spinning.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the construction of FIG. 1 as set up formetal spinning, certain parts being indicated in dotted lines in adifferent position of adjustment.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the construction as viewed fromthe right in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view takensubstantially along the line4-4 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along theline 6-6 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the device showing a differentattachment in place, and adapted for use in face plate turning, and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the Work holder ofFIG. 7 in a different position of adjustment enabling work to be done onthe rear of the article.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generallyindicated at 10 a base, which is preferably comprised .of relativelyheavy metal, and which is adapted to be positioned on and secured to aworkbench or table or the like. Mounted at one end of base 10substantially centrally thereof is a headstock 11, which is hollow, andsecured to the base as by means of bolts 12 extending through suitableapertures in the corners thereof. At its upper extremity, headstock 11is provided with a relatively flat top surface .13, the ends of whichare provided with semi-circular bearing receiving depressions 14, inwhich depressions a spindle assembly, generally indicated at 15 (seeFIG. 4), is adapted to seat. The spindle assembly is comprised of acentral shaft 16, which is exteriorly threaded at its opposite ends asat 17, and provided with an interior bore 18 which tapers toward the0pposite ends 19 to provide for the insertion of a suitable tool ineither end thereof.

Each end of the spindle assembly carries a bearing unit comprised :of aninner race 20 and an outer race 21, between which are positioned ball orroller bearings 22, with the outer race 21 normally seating in thearcuate recess 14. A central V belt sheave block 25 surrounds thecentral portion of shaft 16, and is held in position by means of setscrews .26, pulleys of various diameters being provided, a selected oneof which is adapted to be encircled by a V belt 27, which extendsdownwardly to a suitable drive motor (not shown) which may be positionedbeneath the base :or beneath the table or workbench with which it isassociated.

Between the inner bearing races 20, and the adjacent ends of the pulleyblock 25, there are positioned compressible collars 28, the purpose ofwhich will be more fully described hereinafter. v

Headstock 11 is provided with a headstock cover 30, which is providedwith suitable enlargements 31 for the reception of the top of the sheaveblock 25, and which includes outwardly extending flanged portions 32,which, when the spindle assembly 15 is in position, are adapted to besecured to the flat top surface 13 by means of suitable bolts 33. Theend portions of cover 30 are provided with complementary semi-circularrecesses 34, which serve completely to encircle and securely hold theouter bear ing races 21.

When the spindle assembly is in position suitable plates 35 whichsurround the sleeve 16 adjacent it ends are secured v8.8 by means ofscrews 36 to the ends of the cover and headstock, as best shown in FIG.1.

End plates 35 surround suitable clamping or lock nuts 37, which engagethe threaded ends 17 of sleeve 16, and serve to hold the bearingassemblies against the compressible gaskets 28 and against the sheaveblock 25 in such manner that the entire unit may be removed integrallywithout the necessity for disassembly, merely by re1easing the screws33, and four of the screws 36, and removing the cover 30.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a face plate 40 may be suit ably positioned inthe inner end 19 of sleeve 16 in a conventional manner, and providedwith a projecting screw 41, for the support of a chuck or the like.

A bufiing wheel 42 may be mounted on the other threaded end 17 of shaft16 and employed simultaneously with the face plate without the necessityof any removal or reversal of parts.

The opposite end of base 10 carries adjacent one side thereof a boss 45,which is provided with a series of spaced apertures 46, adapted for theselective reception of pins 47 carried by the base 48 of an offset tailstock overarm 49. An additional series of apertures 50 extend at spacedintervals along boss 45, for the reception of a screw 51 which includesa head 52 having a universal joint handle member 53 pivoted thereto asby means of a pivot 54, so that the entire arm and its relatedcomponents may be removed from the boss when not in use, or suitablysecured thereto or adapted to be used in a manner and for a purposepresently to be described.

The upper end of arm 49 carries a split clamp 55, the upper and lowerportions of which are provided with threaded bores, through whichextends a clamping screw 56 having an operating knob 57 on the upperextremity thereof. The interior of the threaded clamp 55 is threaded forthe accommodation of a screw 60, which is provided at one end with aprojection arm 61 which carries an operating crank 62. opposite which isprovided a counter weight 63 all in known or conventional fashion. Thescrew 60 carries at its other end a pressure bearing assembly 64, whichserves as a tailstock when the apparatus is used for metal spinning orthe like. The arm is so designed that the tailstock is accuratelyaligned with the headstock or chuck, so that the apparatus may beeffectively used as a lathe. By suitable selection of the apertures 46into which the pins 47 are engaged, the effective distance between theheadstock and the tailstock may be readily varied so that comparativelylong or comparatively short pieces of work may be employed.

When it is desired to spin metal on the device, a tool support may beemployed. A spinner tool post 81 is suitably inserted in a bore in aboss 72. The upper end of post 81 is reduced as at '8-2, and is adaptedto engage in a selected hole 83 in a spinner tool rest 84, which maythus be suitably angled to accommodate a metal working tool. An upwardlyextending pin 85 also having a reduced end portion 86 may be positionedon the upper side of thetool rest 84, by insertion of one of the holes 83 fnom the top, as best shown in FIG. 3. [n this arrangement the toolrest 84 may be obviously moved to a wide variety of positions, asindicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2.

When it is desired to use the apparatus for face plate turning the arm49 and its associated components are removed, by the use of theoperating handle 53 for releasing the screw 51 from its related aperture50.

For face plate turning the threaded member 41 is removed, together withthe face plate 40, and any suitable means employed, for mounting anarticle to be turned thereon, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

For use under these conditions a woodworking tool support or rest 70 ofconventional design, as best shown in FIG. 7, is mounted by means of itsshank 71 in a bore in a vertically positioned boss 72 which is mountedon a movable arm 73. The arm 73 carries a longitudinally extending slot74, into which extends a bolt, which may be selectively secured in anyone of a series of apertures 76 in a second boss 77 extendingtransversely across the adjacent end of the plate 10. A screw 78provided with the sliding operating member 79 serves clampingly toengage the shank 71 within the bore ofthe boss 72, the

arrangement being such that the upper surface of the.

support 70 may be suitably angled as desired. By virtue of thearrangement of the slot 74 and the nut 75, as well as the relativeangularity of the member 70, it will be obvious that a plate or anticleto be worked on 80 may be worked upon from the front, as shown in FIG.7, or from the rear, as shown in FIG. 8, merely by rearrangement of thearm 73. When the support 70 is used, as previously mentioned, the arm 49is removed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided animproved tool, which is highly versatile, which lends itself to avariety of operations, and a variety of the objects of this invention,and others, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a lathe construction, in combination, a bore, a hollow head stock onsaid bore, said head stock including a fiat top surface having a pair ofaligned semi-cylindrical apertures therein and a cover having a pair ofoppositely aligned semi-cylindrical openings therein, said openingsregistering to form cylindrical bores, end plates securing said cover tosaid head stock, a spindle assembly comprising a central hollow shafthaving inwardly tapered end portions, a pulley block mounted on saidshaft, bearings mounted on said shaft on opposite sides of said pulleyblock, resilient gaskets interposed between said bearings and saidpulley block, said end plates having central openings through which theends of said spindle assembly extend, clamping nuts including sleeveportions extending into said openings in said end plates holding saidpulley block gaskets and bearings on said shaft; said spindle assemblyseating removably and rotatably in said cylindrical bore, a chuckcarried by one end of said spindle assembly, a boss on said base havinga series of openings therein, a tail stock overarm selectively mountedin one of said openings, a universal joint handle clampingly engagingsaid tail stock overarm in said selected opening, a clamping jaw carriedby said overarm, a horizontally positioned adjusting screw for said jaw,an operating handle for said adjusting screw, a counterweight for saidoperating handle, a second boss having a series of apertures thereinmounted on said base adjacent said overarm, a tool rest selectivelymounted in one of said apertures, said tool rest including a holdercomprising an elongated boss having a slot therein, a pin extendingthrough said slot adjustably securing said elongated boss to said secondboss, a vertical spinner tool post having a reduced end mounted on oneend of said elongated boss, a horizontal spinner tool rest mounted onsaid post having a plurality ofopenings therein, into one of which saidreduced end extends for angular adjustment of said tool rest, anupwardly extending tool rest pin selectively mounted in another of saidopenings in said tool rest, and a bufling wheel mounted on the end ofsaid hollow shaft of said spindle assembly opposite the end carryingsaid chuck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10,602Tyng Mar. 7, 854 12,747 Horn Apr. 17, 1855 16,564 Cannon Feb. 3, 1857319,650 Whitney June 9, 1885 1,634,534 Brewer July 5, 1927 1,670,540Humphreys May 22, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,838 Great Britain 1896 961,372France Feb. 16, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES New Departure Handbook, vol. 2,copyright 1951, by New Departure General Motors, Bristol, Conn, page 86.

